Fleur de Lolly: These aren’t your typical drive-thru burgers

Laura Tolbert More Content Now

Monday

Aug 20, 2018 at 12:07 PMAug 20, 2018 at 12:07 PM

Nowadays you can get a hamburger 24 hours a day. Drive-thrus are everywhere, and there are many types from which to choose. But when I was a little girl, having a hamburger was a special treat.My all-time favorite version is courtesy of my maternal grandmother, who made the best burger. She would grate a peeled raw potato into the ground beef. Not only does it add extra flavor and texture, but it also helped to stretch the meat.Make sure you use the smallest holes of your box grater to grate the potato. The potato should be almost pulpy. Use a cast iron skillet, which will give a great crust to the exterior of the burger.

OLD FASHIONED BURGERS1 pound of ground chuck1 medium russet potato, peeled and finely grated1/2 teaspoon granulated garlic1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper1/2 teaspoon saltBreak up the meat with a fork in a large bowl. Add the potato, garlic, black pepper and salt. Mix thoroughly with the fork.Shape into four patties. Heat a large cast iron skillet over medium-high heat and add the burgers to the pan. Let burgers cook until there is a nice browned sear to the patties. Flip the burgers and cook to your desired level of doneness. Serve on toasted buns with your favorite toppings.SALMON BURGERSBurgers can certainly be prepared with a variety of proteins. If you’ve never tried a salmon burger, give these a try. An added bonus is a healthy dose of Omega 3s. I serve these with my homemade tartar sauce.1 16 oz. can boneless/skinless salmon, drained and flaked2 eggs, lightly beaten1/4 teaspoon Old Bay seasoning1 tablespoon lemon juice1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley2 cloves garlic, gratedA few grinds black pepper1/2 cup bread crumbs1 tablespoon minced red onion2 to 3 tablespoons vegetable oilIn a medium bowl, lightly mix all ingredients (except vegetable oil) with a fork.Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Shape into four patties and place into skillet. Cook, occasionally turning, until burgers are cooked through, about 3 to 4 minutes per side. Drain on a paper towel-lined plate. Toast the buns and serve with your favorite lettuce and tartar sauce.